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The differences between assignment editors and writers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both an assignment editor and a writer. Additionally, a writer has an average salary of $66,143, which is higher than the $48,582 average annual salary of an assignment editor.
The top three skills for an assignment editor include twitter, assignment desk and phone calls. The most important skills for a writer are work ethic, customer service, and web content.
| Assignment Editor | Writer | |
| Yearly salary | $48,582 | $66,143 |
| Hourly rate | $23.36 | $31.80 |
| Growth rate | -5% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 11,919 | 13,931 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
An assignment editor is responsible for handling and delegating tasks to news staff, identifying news sources, and developing accurate and efficient news articles for media and publishing companies. Assignment editors monitor situations for the public's awareness, requiring them to work at the office and conduct field investigations alternately. They also manage the scope and limitation of news coverage, finalizing scripts for television airings, and ensuring that all details are factual-based. An assignment editor should be highly communicative and organizational, as well as attentive, having the ability to finish newsworthy stories within strict deadlines.
A writer can have different responsibilities depending on which industry or line of work they are involved. There are writers assigned in a corporate setting, some in journalism, while there are also writers in the entertainment Industry. Although they focus on varying types of writing, they all function to inform. Among the typical duties of writers involve producing content within allotted time or deadline, gather information and verify to ensure accuracy, proofread, and undergo review and revisions.
Assignment editors and writers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Assignment Editor | Writer | |
| Average salary | $48,582 | $66,143 |
| Salary range | Between $31,000 And $74,000 | Between $40,000 And $107,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | New York | Massachusetts |
| Best paying company | The Washington Post | Apple |
| Best paying industry | Media | - |
There are a few differences between an assignment editor and a writer in terms of educational background:
| Assignment Editor | Writer | |
| Most common degree | Bachelor's Degree, 85% | Bachelor's Degree, 74% |
| Most common major | Communication | English |
| Most common college | Northwestern University | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Here are the differences between assignment editors' and writers' demographics:
| Assignment Editor | Writer | |
| Average age | 44 | 42 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 48.9% Female, 51.1% | Male, 46.2% Female, 53.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 3.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 8.6% Asian, 6.3% White, 76.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% | Black or African American, 6.1% Unknown, 5.6% Hispanic or Latino, 7.8% Asian, 5.0% White, 75.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% |
| LGBT Percentage | 12% | 16% |